scaredy cats = pain
My darling Banzai loves to go outside. When the weather is nice, as it so often has been of late, I humor him and we spend some time in the back yard. Usually, he'll be ready to go in after a while and will come back in either of his own accord or with some gentle persuasion. But yesterday he was happily seated in the corner of the yard, when the neighbors' huge dog Rosco decided that was just a little to close to HIS yard and started barking his big bark at my Banzai. Banzai was freaked out and puffed himself all up to be more menacing, but sorry Banzai. You're a big boy but you're still only bite-sized to a dog like Rosco. So I tried to calm Banzai down and get him to come with my inside, and he was in such a freaked-out flight-or-fight mode that he chose to fight ME. He sunk some claws deep into my hand before I knew what was happening, and I gave a "DAMMIT!" and ran inside to wash up. Eventually Rachel got Banzai to come inside, which is good, but I've got a painful hand. It's bandaged now--I made sure to treat with antibiotic and cover with bandaids the deepest punctures-- which HURT LIKE HELL whenever I put my arm down. Or also when I do too much with it. So I'm not knitting right now, and I'm not crocheting and I can't put my hand down to pet my Banzai and it just sucks! Lesson learned: Just don't touch a cat when he's terrified.